Boat shade

ABSTRACT

A boat shade installed on a boat body for shading a deck of the boat body includes a shade body and a plurality of supporting rods. The shade body has engaging members. The supporting rod has a first end and a second disposed in opposite to the first end. The first end is detachably engaged with the engaging member. The second end is disposed on the boat body. A first distance between two first ends of the two neighbored supporting rods is larger than a second distance between two second ends of the two neighbored supporting rods. When the first end is engaged with the engaging end to expand the shade body, the first distance is shortened into a third distance, and the third distance is larger than or equal to the second distance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to boat shades, and more particularly, to a boat shade shading a boat body.

2. Description of the Related Art

A traditional boat without a fixed shade is influenced by negative effects caused by wind blowing, sun light, and rain drops. Also, people on such boat needs to wear sun glasses and trench coat or use other apparatuses for shading. Alternatively, people made a simple shade by use of canopy which is tied to the corners of the boat with cords or ropes. However, such a simple shade is easily blown to collapse by sea wind, failing to be stably positioned. Also, the fastening structure is complex and laborious.

For improving the unstableness of the simple shade aforementioned, an electric shade is developed, which applies a chain wheel for driving an elbow assembly which is equipped with a shade, such that the shade is allowed to be operated for expanding and folding. Also, such electric shade is able to be installed on the deck for achieving the stableness of the overall structure. However, the cost of an electric shade is high, and such electric shade only shades a portion of the boat. In addition, the flexibility and mobility of the electric shade are low, because the electric shade is unable to optionally shade different parts of the boat according to different users demand. Further, the electric shade is fixedly installed on the boat deck, such that a certain installation spacing and housing space for the whole structure are required, and the electric shade is not allowed to be completely housed in the storage. As a result, the traditional electric shade is not applicable to a small-sized boat.

Furthermore, besides the aforementioned simple shade and electric shade, a manually foldable shade is developed, which applies an X-shaped supporting rack for being positioned on the boat. Such manually foldable shade is manually pulled to expand when the shading is needed. However, the supporting rack of the manually foldable shade is usually large-sized and uneasy to be housed, and the overall volume is not allowed to be adjusted according to the size and the shading-needed place of the boat.

Therefore, an improvement of boat shade is needed to overcome the issues of traditional shading devices, such as unstableness, high cost, low flexibility, low mobility, and the uneasiness of housing, so as to provide a highly stable, easily assembled, and conveniently housed boat shade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the foregoing issues, embodiments of the present invention discloses an improved boat shade. In the operation status, the shade body is expanded by use of two supporting rods, wherein the distance between the top ends of the rods is larger than the distance between the bottom ends of the rods. When the boat shade is to be folded, the supporting rods are disassembled for facilitate the housing of the whole shading structure. With such configuration, the boat shade is allowed to be installed according to different users demand, and the mobility thereof is achieved.

For achieving the aforementioned objectives, embodiments of the present invention provides a boat shade which is installed on a boat body for shading a deck of the boat body, comprising:

a shade body including a plurality of engaging members; and

a plurality of supporting rods, each rod provided with a first end and a second disposed in opposite to the first end, the first end detachably engaged with the engaging member, the second end disposed on the boat body,

wherein a first distance between two neighbored first ends is larger than a second distance between two neighbored second ends; when the first end is engaged with the engaging end to expand the shade body, the first distance is shortened into a third distance, and the third distance is larger than or equal to the second distance.

Preferably, the supporting rods are made of a material chosen from a group consisting of glass fiber and carbon fiber.

When the present invention is in operation, the supporting rods are inserted around a shading-needed area on the boat body, and the shade is expanded by use of the combination between the first ends of the supporting rods and the corresponding engaging members, wherein the first distance is shortened into the third distance, and the third distance is equal to or larger than the second distance. When the shade body is to be folded, the supporting rods are firstly pulled toward the inner side of the boat body for loosening the shade body, and the shade body is disengaged from the supporting rods. Afterward, the components are able to be housed in the storage. The disassembled components are small-sized and portable, facilitating an easy installation and uninstallation function. Furthermore, the supporting rods are formed by glass fiber or carbon fiber, therefore being able to tolerate intense wind blowing and provide a higher stableness for the overall structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first schematic view in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the supporting rods being installed.

FIG. 2 is a second schematic view in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the supporting rods and the shade body being installed.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is sectional view illustrating the combination of the supporting rod and the socket member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the socket member, illustrating the lid member covering the opening.

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a top view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the supporting rods and the shade body being installed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the supporting rods and the shade body installed on the handrail of the boat.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 11, illustrating the side socket installed on the handrail and combined with the supporting rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12, embodiments of the present invention provides a boat shade which is installed on a boat body 1 for shading a deck 2. The boat shade comprises a shade body 10, and a plurality of supporting rods 20.

The shade body 10 includes a plurality of engaging members 11. In the embodiment of the present invention, the engaging member 11 refers to a ring member. Referring to FIG. 1 or FIG. 11 representing a first and a third embodiment, a total of four engaging members 11 is provided, and the engaging members 11 are disposed at the four corners of the shade body 10. In addition, referring to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, two corners of the shade body 10 are provided with a connecting member 12, and the two connecting members 12 are further positioned on a cabin roof 3 of the boat body 1. Four engaging members 11 are provided and disposed at the other two corners and the center of the two lateral sides.

The supporting rods 20 are made of glass fiber or carbon fiber material. Each supporting rod 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22 disposed in opposite to the first end 21. The first end 21 is provided with a combining member 23 having a groove 231, such that the first end 21 is detachably engaged with the engaging member 11, wherein the engaging member 11 is allowed to be engaged or disengaged with the groove 231, thereby enhancing the combination structure between shade body 10 and the supporting rod 20, preventing the shade body 10 from detaching from the supporting rod 20, and facilitating the convenience of installation of the shade body 10. The second end 22 is disposed on the boat body 1 and provided with an enforcement member 24. In the embodiment of the present invention, the combining member 23 and the enforcement member 24 are made of metal material; the enforcement member 24 refers to a sleeve which is mounted around the second end 22 of the supporting rod 20 for enforcing the structural strength thereof. Also, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown by FIG. 1 or FIG. 11, four supporting rods 20 are provided and disposed at four corners of the boat body 1 for correspondingly combining the engaging members 11 in order to completely expand the shade body 10. As shown by FIG. 10, the supporting rods 20 are disposed at two corners and the center of two lateral sides; with the two connecting members 12 disposed on the cabin roof 3, the shade body 10 is completely expanded.

Also, the supporting rod 20 is allowed to be a rod member integrally formed or made of at least two rod members combined to each by a joint 25. In the embodiment of the present invention, the supporting rod 20 is formed of multiple tube members, wherein at least one joint 25 is used for combining the multiple tube members into a whole supporting rod 20. With such configuration, the length of the supporting rod 20 is adjusted based on the available storing space of the boat body 1 and allowed to be extended to meet different users demand. In the embodiment of the present invention, the length of the supporting rod 20 is 150 centimeters, and the joint 25 is made of a hollow tube with two ends thereof open. Therefore, when the supporting rod 20 is to be disposed on the boat body 1, one end of each of the two rod members is inserted into the joint 25 to form a supporting rod 20. With such configuration, the length of the supporting rod 20 is adjustable; when the supporting rod 20 is to be stored, the two rod members are able to be disassembled for being stored in an original housing of the boat body 1, such that no additional storing space is needed, thus resolving the housing issue due to the length of the supporting rods 20.

Furthermore, as for any two neighbored supporting rods 20, the distance between the two first ends 21 is defined as a first distance D1, and the distance between the two second ends 22 is defined as a second distance D2, wherein the first distance D1 is larger than the second distance D2. In the embodiment of the present invention, two neighbored supporting rods 20 are disposed in an arrangement along the marching direction of the boat body 1; therefore, the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 are defined based on the marching direction of the boat body 1. Also, the first distance D1 is larger than 1.2 to 2 times the second distance D2; in the embodiment of the present invention, the first distance D1 is larger than 1.2 times the second distance D2. When the first end 21 of the supporting rod 20 is engaged with the engaging member 11 for expanding the shade body 10, the first distance is shortened into a third distance D3 by the supporting rod 20. The third distance D3 is equal to or larger than the second distance D2; in the embodiment of the present invention, the second distance D2 is larger than 1.1 to 1.3 times the second distance D2. With such configuration, when the supporting rods 20 expand the shade body 10, a resilient force is provided by the supporting rods 20 made of glass fiber or carbon fiber. Due to the engaging members 11 of the shade body 10, the first distance D1 between the supporting rods 20 is adjusted into the third distance D3, whereby the supporting rods 20 are slightly bent, enhancing the tolerance against strong wind blowing.

The socket members 30 are disposed on the boat body 1 for receiving the enforcement members 24 of the supporting rods 20. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, the socket members 30 are disposed on the deck 2 with an interval between each other. The socket member 30 comprises a fixing member 31 and a lid member 32. The fixing member 31 is mechanically fixed on the deck 2, wherein the fixing member 31 includes a fixing portion 311 and a tube portion 312. The fixing portion 311 and the tube portion 312 are integrally formed. The fixing portion 311 is mechanically fixed on the deck 2, and the tube portion 312 is disposed between the boat body 1 and the deck 2 for receiving the supporting rod 20. In the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing portion 311 is screwedly fixed on the deck 2, such that the socket member 30 is fixed to the deck 2, enhancing the stability of the socket member 30 and preventing the supporting rod 20 from detaching from the deck 2 due to wind blowing.

The tube portion 312 is provided with an opening 313 which is able to be covered by the lid member 32. The lid member 32 is peripherally provided with a resilient member 321. When the lid member 32 covers the opening 313, the resilient member 321 is pressed to the inner side of the opening 313 for enhancing the tightness between the lid member 32 and the opening 313. In the embodiment of the present invention, the resilient member 321 refers to a rubber ring. When the supporting rod 20 is to be inserted into the tube portion 312, the lid member 32 is opened to move away from the opening 313, and the supporting rod 20 is subsequently inserted into the tube portion 312. As shown by FIG. 5, when the supporting rod 20 is removed, the lid member 32 is moved to cover the opening 313. With the tightness enhanced by the resilient member 321, water is not allowed to flow into the tube portion 312 from the opening 313.

Also, the tube portion 312 is biasedly against the deck 2. In the embodiment of the present invention, the tube portion 312 is biased in an angle of 15 degrees against a vertical line A of the deck 2. Also, the tube portion 312 is outwardly biased against the boat body 1, as shown by FIG. 4. Further, an imaginary line B is defined in vertical to the marching direction of the boat body 1, and the tube portion 312 and the imaginary line B include an angle of 45 degrees, as shown by FIG. 5 and FIG. 9. With such configuration, the supporting rod 20 is inserted in the socket member 30; the supporting rod 20 is biased against the deck 2 and at the same time biased outwardly against the boat body 1, such that the first distance D1 is larger than the second distance D2 for completely expanding the shade body 10. When the shade body 10 is expanded, with the engaging member 11 and the resilient force provided by the supporting rod 20, the first distance D1 is shortened into the third distance D3.

Referring to the third embodiment shown by FIG. 11 to FIG. 12, the socket members 30 are disposed on a T shape structure formed on a handrail 4 of the boat body 1 for enhancing the combination, such that the socket members 30 are prevented from sliding on the handrail 4. The socket member 30 comprises a clamping member 33 and a side socket 34. The side socket 34 is disposed on one side of the clamping member 33, wherein the clamping member 33 is provided with a first clamp body 331 and a second clamp body 332, and the side socket 34 is disposed on one side of the second clamp body 332 in opposite to the handrail 4. The first clamp body 331 and the second clamp body 332 are allowed to pivot to open and close against each other. When the clamping member 33 clamps the handrail 4, the side socket 34 receives the enforcement member 24 of the supporting rod 20, and the side socket 34 is biasedly disposed against the clamping member 33. In the embodiment of the present invention, the side socket 34 is longitudinally biased against the clamping member 33 in an angle of 15 degrees, such that the first distance D1 is larger than the second distance D2. When the supporting rod 20 is applied to expand the shade body 10, the first distance D1 between two supporting rods 20 are shortened into the third distance D3 due to the engaging members 11, whereby the shade body 10 is completely expanded.

When the user needs to shade the boat body 1, the socket members 30 are disposed around the shading-needed area on the boat body 1, and the supporting rods 20 are subsequently inserted into the corresponding socket members 30. With such configuration, after the supporting rods 20 expand the shade body 10, the resilient force provided of the supporting rods 20 force the first distance D1 to be shortened into the third distance D3 due to the engaging members 11. The supporting rods 20 are slightly bent to enhance the tolerance to strong wind blowing. On the other hand, when the shade body 10 is to be removed, the user pulls the supporting rods 20 to the inner side of the boat body 1 for loosening the shade body 10, and the engaging members 11 of the shade body 10 are disengaged with the combining members 23. Further, the supporting rods 20 are able to be wrapped in the shade body 10 for completing the storage status, wherein the volume required by the storage status is relatively small, enhancing the portability of the present invention. Thus, the convenience of installation is facilitated, and the flexibility and mobility of the installation positions are assured.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A boat shade installed on a boat body for shading a deck of the boat body, comprising: a shade body including a plurality of engaging members; and a plurality of supporting rods, each rod provided with a first end and a second end disposed in opposite to the first end, the first end detachably engaged with the engaging member, the second end disposed on the boat body, wherein a first distance between two first ends of the two neighbored supporting rods is larger than a second distance between two second ends of the two neighbored supporting rods; when the first end is engaged with the engaging end to expand the shade body, the first distance is shortened into a third distance, and the third distance is larger than or equal to the second distance.
 2. The boat shade of claim 1, wherein the supporting rods are made of a material chosen from a group consisting of glass fiber and carbon fiber.
 3. The boat shade of claim 1, wherein the first distance is larger than 1.2 to 2 times the second distance, and the third distance is larger than 1.1 to 1.3 times the second distance.
 4. The boat shade of claim 1, wherein the first end of the supporting rod comprises a combining member, and the combining member is engaged with the engaging member.
 5. The boat shade of claim 4, wherein the engaging member is a ring member, the combining member is provided with a groove, and the engaging member is engaged with the groove.
 6. The boat shade of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of socket members disposed on the boat body, the second end of the supporting rod provided with an enforcement member received in the socket member.
 7. The boat shade of claim 6, wherein the socket members are disposed on the deck with an interval between each other, and the socket member comprises a fixing member which is mechanically fixed on the deck.
 8. The boat shade of claim 7, wherein the socket member further comprises a lid member, and the fixing member is provided with a fixing portion and a tube portion, the lid member covering an opening of the tube portion, the fixing portion mechanically fixed to the deck, the tube portion disposed between the boat body and the deck for receiving the corresponding supporting rod.
 9. The boat shade of claim 8, wherein the tube portion is biasedly disposed against the deck.
 10. The boat shade of claim 8, wherein the lid member is peripherally provided with a resilient member, and the resilient member is pressed to an inner side of the opening.
 11. The boat shade of claim 6, wherein the socket members are disposed with an interval between each other and arranged on a handrail of the boat body, the socket member provided with a clamping member and a side socket, the side socket disposed on one side of the clamping member, the clamping member clamping the handrail, the side socket receiving the corresponding supporting rod.
 12. The boat shade of claim 11, wherein the side socket is longitudinally biased against the corresponding clamping member.
 13. The boat shade of claim 12, wherein the clamping member comprises a first clamp body and a second clamp body, and the first clamp body and the second clamp body pivot against each other.
 14. The boat shade of claim 13, wherein the side socket is disposed on one side of the second clamp body opposite to the handrail.
 15. The boat shade of claim 1, wherein the supporting rod comprises at least two rod members combined by a joint. 